Trusting In God's Love First

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Feria

Today's Readings:
[ 2 Chr 24:17-25; Ps 89:19-33; Mt 6:24-34 ]

The readings today place before us a stark contrast between trust in God and trust in worldly security. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus speaks plainly: “You cannot serve God and wealth”. He then invites his listeners to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, creatures that neither toil nor store up treasures, yet remain under the loving care of their Creator.

This teaching echoes against the tragedy found in 2 Chronicles. King Joash had once been guided by the priest Jehoiada and walked faithfully before God. Yet after Jehoiada's death, he listened to flattering voices and abandoned the covenant. When the prophet Zechariah called the people back to faithfulness, Joash rejected the warning and ultimately ordered the prophet's death. The king who had once known God's blessing chose political convenience and self-preservation over obedience. In seeking security apart from God, he lost both.

The Franciscan tradition hears in these passages a call to holy simplicity. St. Francis of Assisi understood that anxiety often grows from our desire to possess, control, and secure our future by our own strength. Jesus does not tell us to ignore our responsibilities, but he does invite us to place them in their proper order. “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness”. When God is first, everything else finds its rightful place.

The Psalm reminds us that God's covenant faithfulness endures even when human beings stumble. Though God disciplines his people, he declares, “I will not remove from him my steadfast love”. This is good news for all of us. We are often more like Joash than we care to admit, tempted to trust our own plans rather than God's providence. Yet the Lord continues to call us back.

Today, let us release one burden we have been carrying alone. Let us place it into God's hands with confidence, remembering that the One who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds also knows our needs before we ask. His care is not uncertain. His love is not fragile. His kingdom is worth seeking above all else.

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